How to Keep Healthy with Heart Disease

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Heart disease is one of the most common non-infectious diseases worldwide. Lifestyle-related factors, such as smoking and diet, account for most risk factors associated with heart disease. Fortunately, many of these lifestyle factors can be improved, thus reducing future risks and helping you stay as healthy as possible. Here are three ways to keep your cardiovascular system healthy if you have heart disease.

1. Stop Smoking

This isn’t new information, and it’s probably not the first time you’ve heard this advice. But if you want to keep your heart as healthy as possible, try to quit smoking. It’s never too late; the benefits of quitting are immediate, and the cardiovascular system improves no matter how long – or much – you’ve been smoking.

2. Do Cardiovascular Exercise

When it comes to exercise, consistency is critical. Cardiovascular exercise helps strengthen the heart muscles and lowers blood pressure. It includes moderate-intensity exercises, such as walking, gardening, or biking at a slow pace, and more intense exercises, such as hiking, running, and swimming. Ideally, have a combination of both moderate and high-intensity exercises throughout your week. Find something you enjoy, as it will help you stay motivated.

3. Eat a Heart-Healthy Diet

A heart-healthy diet is generally low in sugars, high in lean protein and healthy fats, and low in sodium. The Mediterranean diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet are considered two of the best diets for heart health (and overall health). Check out the list of complete meals for general wellness on MagicKitchen.com, which contain at least one serving of vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Limit your intake of high-sugar, artificial sweets and foods high in saturated fats, such as cheese and red meat.

Although cardiovascular disease is common, it’s also manageable through simple lifestyle improvements. Quitting smoking, eating healthy, and exercising can keep your heart as healthy as possible and significantly reduces your risk of future heart attacks or strokes.